"Following the Shuka Sho, another Canopus escape! But this time, it's Nice Nature leading the charge—a tactic she's never used before! What could her strategy be!?"
"Talk about a shocker…" Tojo muttered, watching the Kikka Sho broadcast with a look of disbelief. "Nice Nature pulling an escape? Unthinkable."
Switching from a chasing strategy to an escape was a common surprise tactic, but to do it on a G1 stage like this? Unheard of. What was she aiming for?
"Who's going to claim the final crown?" Tojo wondered aloud.
Under the crisp autumn sky, the Kikka Sho unfolded with chaotic brilliance. Nice Nature, Canopus's dark horse, seized the lead from the start. Instead of her signature mid-race long spurt, she boldly chose to escape—a move that left the other horse girls stunned. They dismissed it as a makeshift tactic, confident it wouldn't hold up, but kept their focus on marking the favorite, Tokai Teio.
"They're all zeroed in on Teio," Rampage observed. "No surprise there, but that's some serious pressure. And yet, Teio's acting like it's just another day."
"She's been drilled to the bone for this," CB chimed in, flashing a V-sign. "All that prep for the Kikka Sho is paying off."
Okino, marveling at Teio's composure, glanced at CB. "She's tougher than I expected. Thanks to you and Taishin putting the heat on her."
"Just doing what the boss asked," Taishin said, looking away, though her effort for her teammate didn't go unnoticed. Rampage gave a nod of gratitude.
The race neared Yodo's infamous hill. CB had once shattered convention by accelerating down it to clinch victory. Most slowed here, but Nature? She barely eased up. Ascending and descending, she held a near-perfect pace, charging through with unwavering rhythm.
"That girl's strong," CB said, impressed. "Her legs and core must be rock-solid."
"What do you mean?" Ikuno asked.
"Nature's pace doesn't waver, up or down the hill. That takes serious power. Downhill, your body weight slams your legs—holding steady through that means her lower body's a beast. No doubt about it, Canopus has been training with Shinzan Iron."
Rampage was the poster child for that. Her freakish burst speed and Shinzan Iron-forged power gave her explosive acceleration. Nature might not match her, but Canopus's adoption of Shinzan Iron had clearly leveled them up.
"We're approaching the grandstand, and the crowd's roar is deafening! Nice Nature holds the lead, five lengths ahead of Fuji Number One, with the pack another five lengths back. The undefeated two-crown horse girl, Tokai Teio, lurks just behind the midfield, biding her time. Wait—Nature's making her move already!? Known for her long spurts, is she pushing to widen the gap!?"
With half the race still to go—practically a mile left—Nature kicked into high gear. It was a reckless spurt, far earlier than her Derby run, but she charged without hesitation.
"Still got plenty in the tank," Nature growled. "Here I go!"
Her early spurt seemed suicidal, but for someone who'd mastered long spurts, it sparked doubt in her rivals. Could they afford to let her pull away?
"We're past the halfway mark! Nice Nature leads Fuji Number One by seven lengths, with fifteen lengths to the pack! The race is still, but—movement! Cedar Blade and Rio Natal are climbing! Others follow! But Tokai Teio holds steady, the two-crown champion unmoved!"
As the final stretch loomed, the trailing horse girls began their ascent, all united in their focus on Teio. Rampage smirked.
"They couldn't hold back. Nature's got 'em right where she wants 'em."
"Brilliant move, Nature," Ikuno added.
"What's that mean?" Tanhoiza asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Rice echoed, puzzled.
"Spill it, seniors!" Ticket chimed in, a giant question mark practically hovering over her.
Rampage and Ikuno exchanged a glance before explaining.
"They've been marking Teio the whole time. Undefeated, two crowns—her speed's unreal, so they're glued to her. But Teio's not chasing Nature or picking up the pace."
"There's fifteen lengths between them and Nature," Ikuno continued. "If they don't close the gap now, they'll never catch her. And what's coming up?"
"The hill…" Rice murmured.
"Yodo's hill," Tanhoiza gasped.
"Exactly," Rampage said.
Raising the pace here was risky—Yodo's hill would sap their speed, ascent and descent alike. Nature had grappled with this, so she'd opened a massive gap early to escape. Fuji Number One, caught in her pace, was already overextending. Catching her was a long shot.
"But… Teio's still running her own race," Rampage noted.
"She's that far behind!" Ticket protested.
"It's all about her finishing kick," Rampage said. "That's what'll decide it."
"Nice Nature still leads! Can she escape to victory? She's charging down Yodo's hill into the straightaway, still well ahead! Will she hold on!?"
("Here it comes, here it comes!")
As the crowd sensed Nature's victory, she herself doubted it. Her face said it all—this wasn't over. When would Teio strike? Now? Soon? Come on, Teio, bring it!
As if answering her call, a figure thundered down Yodo's hill.
"Here she comes! The star takes the stage! Tokai Teio surges up the ranks, tearing down the hill! The Emperor charges from the outside, closing in on Nice Nature! An imperial assault!"
There she is! Nature laughed inwardly. Teio, conserving her strength, unleashed her spurt mid-hill, wielding centrifugal force to slingshot past rivals, her body a blur of calculated power.
"She's here," Rampage muttered.
"Nature, just a bit more!" Ikuno cheered.
"Keep going!" Rice shouted.
"Senior, you've got this!" Ticket yelled.
Nature soaked in the cheers, pushing harder despite the pressure of Teio's approach. She could feel it—the Emperor's unique, powerful steps closing in. Light yet forceful, unmistakable.
"Hey, Nature," Teio called.
"Yo, Teio," Nature shot back.
"Ready for a real race?" they said in unison.
Like old friends trading greetings, they surged forward. Teio was expected, but Nature—where was she pulling this strength from? Simple: her resolve to settle this with her rival in the Triple Crown's final race. She'd believed it would come to this, and Teio had answered with her run. Now, Nature had to match her.
"Tokai Teio and Nice Nature neck and neck! A clash of Derby horse girls! Who will the Three Goddesses favor!?"
"Today, I'm taking the win!" Teio declared.
"Say that after you beat me!" Nature shot back.
"Let's do this!" Teio roared.
In that moment, Teio's signature Teio Step shifted. Her high-stride run, fueled by flexible knees, transformed. Nature recognized it instantly.
"That's Rampage's run!" she gasped.
It was unmistakable—Rampage's full-body, all-in sprint, a perfect harmony of motion. Not as refined, but undeniably the same. Teio's Teio Step, fused with this power, became a force of nature, overtaking her.
"Tokai Teio pulls ahead! She's passed Nice Nature! Nature fights back, but the gap widens! Teio's blazing, leaving her rival behind! The Emperor charges to victory! Tokai Teio claims the Kikka Sho, undefeated! Following last year's Mejiro Ryan, another Triple Crown horse girl is born—Tokai Teio, the undefeated champion!"
Amid the roaring crowd, Rampage grinned fiercely. That was Monsigny's full-body run, not as polished as her own but close enough. Had Monsigny taught her? No, Teio had evolved her Teio Step by studying Rampage.
"She's tapped into her talent," Rampage said. "The last race this year's gonna be a fight."
"You say that, but you're smiling, Rampage," Ikuno teased.
"Teio, when did you pick up Rampage's run?" Nature asked, catching her breath.
"Hehe! I watched her tons during camp," Teio beamed. "Then I got my trainer to collect all her races. Studied them like crazy!"
"Man, you got me good," Nature sighed. "Total defeat. But I'm not done being your rival. Next time, I'm winning."
"I'll win again," Teio said with a grin. "I'm the Emperor, after all!"
----------------------------------
The next chapter is already available on Patreon! If you'd like to read early and support me, check it out here ❤️ [pat*eon*com/Greyhounds]